Depositional data for unit J5
Accretion

James L. Walker – September 2011

Stages of Accretion

Stages of Accretion

Early Dynastic

To date, the earliest construction in unit J5 that we have excavated is the first revetment wall, f41, its stone escarpment, ^esc1, and a pebble pavement, f288. Absent typological evidence, we have stratigraphically dated this construction to the Early Dynastic period. At some time thereafter, soil buildup began. Within these accumulations, which were bounded by the revetment wall to the east, EDIII ceramics were found. Several distinct boundaries delimited additional layers of EDIII material, but it was not possible to determine the type of activity that took place during that time. Accumulation, f282, is an example.

Mittani

Typologically, an extended period of time elapsed between the last EDIII accumulation and the next, which contained Mittani ceramics. It is unlikely that this is direct evidence of non-use or abandonment since one would expect natural accumulation to take place during that time if that were the case. Perhaps as buildup continued to overwhelm structures that were part of the original monumental architecture to the east in the Mittani period, some commercial activites were shifted to the west. Any residual accumulations between EDIII and Mittani would have been removed to facilitate construction, which included a stairway, ^strc2. Accumulation, f258, is a good example from early in the Mittani period.

Disintegration

Build up continued late into the Mittani period when the monumental west entrance was also gradually covered by successive accumulations bounded by the monumental stairway, ^strc1, and the plaza’s western border, ^bdr2. Accumulation, f42, is a good example. It abutted the top step of the stairway and contained Middle Assyrian ceramics.
As use of the temple mound complex diminished, the surrounding settlement mudbrick buildings were abandoned and began to disintegrate. The detritus was carried by rainwater to lower levels and deposited uniformly across the area near the revetment wall. Accumulation, f136, is a good example. It consists of many alternationg thin layers of sand and silt.

Abandonment

After this part of the tell was abandoned, the major accretion was soil carried by the wind and shaped by various environmental factors, including wind, rain, flora and fauna. Except for topsoil, there was little variation in color and density with depth. Layers, f9 and f16 are typical examples.

Unit Book J5

The Mittani Staircase (Version 1a)

J5 Synthetic View / Stratigraphy